Tom Wright knows Canadians have been waiting for quite some time to get their own version of The Ultimate Fighter.

The director of UFC operations for Canada, Australia and New Zealand has been hearing about it from fans since UFC president Dana White first discussed plans to produce international versions of the MMA reality series.

But in order to get the show running, Wright said time was needed to ensure all the pieces fell into the right place.

“Something worth doing is something worth doing properly,” Wright told QMI Agency following a UFC press conference in Toronto Tuesday. “We're all about doing things professionally and making sure all the conditions are right to do that kind of a show. That means being respectful to your broadcast partners and production partners, and making sure you've got the right elements for it to be a great event.

“People in this country know about it. I've been tweeted and sent e-mails from people wanting to know when it's happening — and now it is.”

With everything finally coming together, TUF Nations: Canada vs. Australia is ready to start casting fighters. Open tryouts for welterweight and middleweight fighters are set to take place in Sydney Sept. 11 and Toronto Sept. 22, with both events kicking off at 10 a.m. local time.

Once the roster is filled, Patrick (The Predator) Cote and Kyle (KO) Noke will serve as coaches.

The program marks Canada's first TUF series and Australia's second, as TUF: Smashes pitted Aussie fighters against Brits. The original version of the reality series is set to enter its 18th season this fall.

Wright said taking the extra time to ensure TUF Nations runs smoothly will show in the program's production. He admitted elements of TUF: Smashes were rushed and the product suffered somewhat.

“We wanted to make sure we had all of our homework done,” Wright said. “Now that we have all of our homework done, we know where it's going to be and who our coaches are going to be, and the format, we're very excited about it.

“Our first ever TUF show in Australia was TUF: Smashes. We didn't have a lot of runway. There was very little lead time for that. So I think, in some cases, that had an impact on the overall production. This way, we're trying to do it properly. We've got lots of lead time. I'm going to be heading down to Sydney for the Australia tryouts and the tryouts for TUF Canada are going to be here the Sunday and Monday after UFC 165. So it's pretty exciting.”

According to Wright, one of the biggest logistical hurdles in setting up Nations was preventing the UFC from cannibalizing itself. Since two regular TUF seasons already air in Canada each year, he was left with only so many open weeks to fit the new series.

“The longer-term plan is to have one of these every year,” Wright said. “We've got to figure out what's the best way to position it because you've got a broadcast partner that also broadcasts TUF in the U.S. So there are two TUF seasons in the U.S. Next year it will be TUF 19 and TUF 20. You have to find time in the schedule for those, and then you have a TUF Canada.

“So if you have too many of those TUFs, there are no places to put them, because they are 12-week shows with finale (cards). The last time I checked, there are only 52 weeks in a year. I can't take that up to 60, so that's not going to help. I'd like to.”

NOTES

Brian Stann has retired from mixed martial arts, citing potential health risks following years of competition ... An injury has bumped T.J. Grant out of his title shot against Benson Henderson at UFC 164 in Milwaukee Aug. 31. Anthony Pettis will now challenge for the belt ... Michael Bisping and Mark Munoz have agreed to fight in Manchester, England Oct. 26 ... An injury has forced Siyar Bahadurzada out of his upcoming bout with Robbie Lawler. Lawler will now meet Bobby Voelker at UFC on FOX 8 in Seattle July 27 ... Brendan Schaub has been removed from UFC on FOX 8 after Matt Mitrione pulled out due to injury ... Also regarding UFC on FOX 8, Daron Cruickshank will step in for Spencer Fisher against Yves Edwards and Tim Means will replace Bobby Green against Danny Castillo ... An injury has knocked Josh Koscheck out of his fight with Demian Maia at UFC 163 in Rio de Janeiro Aug. 3 ... Sudbury, Ont. bantamweight Mitch Gagnon will face Dustin Kimura at UFC 165 in Toronto Sept. 21.

'TUF Nations: Canada vs. Australia' set for casting

Tom Wright knows Canadians have been waiting for quite some time to get their own version of The Ultimate Fighter.

The director of UFC operations for Canada, Australia and New Zealand has been hearing about it from fans since UFC president Dana White first discussed plans to produce international versions of the MMA reality series.

But in order to get the show running, Wright said time was needed to ensure all the pieces fell into the right place.